@nanette - we didn't bring snacks yesterday, but yes, that was in the bags the kids got after the game. I don't know what other parents do, but the bean drank water and ate the goldfish. The other items are in the pantry.
When it's our turn we will likely bring orange slices for halftime and bottled waters, a bag of pirate's booty and probably a fruit snack for after the game.
Did you guys really not have snacks after games when you were younger? I'm honestly just really surprised at the reactions here.
I remember playing softball and always having Gatorade available, and if we won the coach would buy everyone a snow cone from the concession stand. That was 30 years ago, though - I doubt that leagues allow only the winning team to get a treat now, lol.
DS1 is 6 and just started playing soccer. I am amazed at what apparently constitutes a "snack" for after the games (you know, when parents are on a rotating schedule to bring them). He's had two games so far, both times it's been a ziploc baggie with multiple items in it. Last night it was a big baggie with a pack of PB cracker sandwiches, bag of mini Oreo cookies, fruit snacks, Tootsie Roll lollipop and a Capri Sun. For a game that was from 5-6pm. Whatever happened to orange slices?
/cranky
See, the bolded is really the part that makes the difference. Snacks are fine, but should be more moderate than the bag of crap they brought. And considering the game was 5-6pm? Hell no. Most kids would fill up on the crap & not eat any real food, and that would NOT be OK at all with me.
I'm in Denver & this doesn't happen. DD2 just had a game yesterday & they got watermelon in a cup & string cheese. I have brought snack for games & practices this year already. I brought these items (2 per game plus water)...organic fruit (clementines, raisins, cut up apples), tubes of yogurt (Tuberz), Cliff bars & Cliff fruit ropes & water bottles. Unless it's a birthday, no one brings real desserts (cupcakes, little Debbie's, etc) for during/after games.
The snacking is out of fucking control. Kids do not need to consume 500 calories in snacks every 90 minutes. Christ.
Yes, my pet peeve! My 4th grader is still getting freaking snack time in school! I was the bad mom who would dare to go to the park or play date & not pack a snack. Then my kids would get offered food by other parents & I'd have to be the bad guy & say they done need a snack.
I had a bunch of 8.5 year old kids (including mine) super pissed off at me last weekend because I refused to supply gatorade for the halftime drink. I got the honest kids drink pouches and water. If you're thirsty enough, you'll drink that. If not, you sure as hell don't need gatorade.
I am part of the problem, though because I did buy prepackaged rice krispy treats for after the game.
One kid had the balls to tell me she didn't like them and wanted another choice.
*edit to add* we also have to make sure there's enough for siblings, so usually enough for 24+ kids. No joke, snack rotation can set you back $20-30.
See, I think you're splitting hairs here a bit. Honest Kids has 40 calories and 9g of sugar for 6.75 fl. oz. and Gatorade has 50 calories and 14g of sugar for a slightly larger serving of 8 fl. oz. They're both metabolized as simple sugars.
This is why I'd prefer just to feed my kid and no one else's. Because everyone has his or her own idea about nutrition. Snacks don't bother me because I've always had the underweight kid, but I'd prefer that when she finally does eat, it's something substantial and healthy.
Also, I don't want to deal with the parents on the the other side of the spectrum who'd roll their eyes at Gatorade and think they're doing my kid a favor by offering a brand name organic sugar drink.
I don't get the snack hate, although I agree that candy is unnecessary. My sons football teams used to do fruit at halftime and I didn't like it. It attracts bugs, gets all sticky and then they need wipes and it's an overall mess. I don't think a bag of chips or cookies and some juice is a big deal after they just exercised for at least an hour. If you prefer that your kids eat healthy then that's probably how you feed them regularly. So what's the big deal if they get a fun snack once or twice a week?
Because it's not once or twice a week. It's at every activity, sport, play date, visit, meeting. It's constant and it's everywhere. No one hates a fun snack once a week. We hate "snack culture" where it's everywhere. So people start evaluating WHY we need to give a kid a bag of crap after one hour on the soccer field.
Yes, my pet peeve! My 4th grader is still getting freaking snack time in school! I was the bad mom who would dare to go to the park or play date & not pack a snack. Then my kids would get offered food by other parents & I'd have to be the bad guy & say they done need a snack.
I don't get school snack hate. With the bus, DS is out of the house for 8 hours. He gets 20 minutes for lunch. What's wrong with eating an apple or some crackers partway through the school day?
Well 2 out of 3 of my older kids eat a snack (even just an apple) & that means they'll eat virtually nothing for the next meal...then be starving a couple hours later, rinse & repeat. They'll spend day after day eating only a breakfast & snack(s). Maybe your kid eats snacks equivalent of a meal with protein, veg & healthy fats but mine certainly don't. They are thin for their frame, struggle with maintaining energy & have chronic constipation...it's not just an inconvenience issue.
I had a bunch of 8.5 year old kids (including mine) super pissed off at me last weekend because I refused to supply gatorade for the halftime drink. I got the honest kids drink pouches and water. If you're thirsty enough, you'll drink that. If not, you sure as hell don't need gatorade.
I am part of the problem, though because I did buy prepackaged rice krispy treats for after the game.
One kid had the balls to tell me she didn't like them and wanted another choice.
*edit to add* we also have to make sure there's enough for siblings, so usually enough for 24+ kids. No joke, snack rotation can set you back $20-30.
See, I think you're splitting hairs here a bit. Honest Kids has 40 calories and 9g of sugar for 6.75 fl. oz. and Gatorade has 50 calories and 14g of sugar for a slightly larger serving of 8 fl. oz. They're both metabolized as simple sugars.
This is why I'd prefer just to feed my kid and no one else's. Because everyone has his or her own idea about nutrition. Snacks don't bother me because I've always had the underweight kid, but I'd prefer that when she finally does eat, it's something substantial and healthy.
Also, I don't want to deal with the parents on the the other side of the spectrum who'd roll their eyes at Gatorade and think they're doing my kid a favor by offering a brand name organic sugar drink.
It's my fault for not mentioning it, but my issue with gatorade vs. the juice pouches is the food dye.
I'm sure I'm a dumb asshole in your eyes for that, too, so you do you and I'll do me.
We have a bag of goldfish after the game and call it a day. Nothing unhealthy and nothing over the top. I am not a fan of sweet drinks after the game. I don't think they are necessary. But I was snack mom last week and I found some capri sun sports drink things that didn't have much sugar in them so that was my compromise.
Jack looks forward to it each week even though the snacks are the same damn thing we have in our cupboard at home lol.
See, I think you're splitting hairs here a bit. Honest Kids has 40 calories and 9g of sugar for 6.75 fl. oz. and Gatorade has 50 calories and 14g of sugar for a slightly larger serving of 8 fl. oz. They're both metabolized as simple sugars.
This is why I'd prefer just to feed my kid and no one else's. Because everyone has his or her own idea about nutrition. Snacks don't bother me because I've always had the underweight kid, but I'd prefer that when she finally does eat, it's something substantial and healthy.
Also, I don't want to deal with the parents on the the other side of the spectrum who'd roll their eyes at Gatorade and think they're doing my kid a favor by offering a brand name organic sugar drink.
It's my fault for not mentioning it, but my issue with gatorade vs. the juice pouches is the food dye.
I'm sure I'm a dumb asshole in your eyes for that, too, so you do you and I'll do me.
Well, that was my point -- I don't want the responsibility of feeding your kid and I don't think you should deal with my weird food issues of a mom with a failure to thrive kid. That's why these group snacks are ridiculous!